City Council Work Session - February 4, 2025

Meeting Summary

The February 4 work session served as the City Council's annual budget retreat, where Mayor Mark Johnson and council members outlined their top priorities for the coming fiscal year. Transportation dominated the discussion, with council members emphasizing the need to pressure UDOT and UTA to deliver on long-standing promises to bring light rail to Lehi, dating back to commitments made when Adobe relocated to the area. The council also discussed the proposed North Shore freeway near Utah Lake and the concept of a "belt route" around the city to address growing traffic congestion. Capital project priorities included continued work on Family Park, with discussion of adding an ice rink, as well as Dry Creek Reservoir and Rhodes-Mellor Park, the latter of which Council Member Hancock noted would likely require bonding. New proposals included expanding the Legacy Center, improving the library collection, and building a dedicated arts and performance venue, though council members acknowledged that some of these are longer-term aspirations. Council Member Newall described the performance space as a "pie in the sky" goal given current facilities. On the budget side, the council reviewed the fiscal picture showing general fund revenues of $71.1 million against expenditures of $65.3 million. Public safety consumes 44 percent of the general fund, followed by parks and recreation at 23 percent. The council discussed the importance of competitive compensation for police, fire, and parks staff. Other operational goals included streaming council meetings on YouTube to improve transparency, enhancing the city website with AI-powered navigation, and conducting emergency preparedness audits. Utility rate increases for sewer, irrigation, garbage, and storm drain were also previewed, with sewer rates projected to rise 44 percent over two years.